Hands down, the best winery experience - it was fabulous! Great day by all in our group.read more

We had a magical day with John! Ended up a private tour because no other couples had booked that…read moreday so we had John all to ourselves. He's knowledgeable about wine without being snobby. He is a local and has great stories that made the day fly by. We explored five wineries and each had between 5-15 tastes! Next time you're in Tahoe try this unusual option and you'll be in for a treat.

Hands-down, one of my favorite wineries in the Amador region. So much so that I am a member. What I…read morelike about the small wineries is that you actually get to talk to the wine makers. This spot is no exception. Lots of seating, indoors and outdoors as well as bar seating at the front. Came on a hot day and was told that the front room actually has the best air-conditioning. I appreciate the little goodies that come with the wine tasting. Helps to cleanse the pallet as well as bring out the best flavors of the wine. What's unique about Jeff Runquist is that he uses pure varietals. He brings out the best characteristics in each of them and there isn't any blending going on here. Service wise, I've always had great service. Very attentive as well. If you're coming to the area to try the wines of Amador, be sure to stop by here. They also have wines from other regions, but it's so nice to try estate wines which they feature here.

This is my absolute favorite winery in Amador County!…read more Honestly the best spot for red wine tasting‼ It was only $10 for six tastings, and they even offered free snacks that paired perfectly with the wines. Super affordable!! The staff were always so attentive, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable. I loved that they did full service pours. It made the experience feel extra special. I've really been enjoying the 2023 wines lately. There are so many great ones from that year! Many options available here (as of November 2025). ※ My Favorites (as of Nov 2025): * 2023 Pinot Noir - absolutely my top pick. It pairs perfectly with the apricot! * 2022 Sangiovese - amazing with cheese. Even my husband, who normally prefers white wine, really enjoys the reds here.:)

Element 79 is one of the best tasting-room experiences in Fair Play. Seated tasting, beautiful…read morepatio and vineyard views, and staff who actually walk you through the wines instead of rushing you. The food was excellent. The pastrami sliders were packed with flavor and perfect with their reds. The burrata peach flatbread was even better than it sounded. Creamy, sweet, and a great match for the whites and rosé. Chef Brian's seasonal tapas are worth planning around. Both the whites and reds were outstanding. The sparkling passion fruit and lighter wines had great aroma and freshness; the reds and blends were rich without being heavy. We left with some bottles. Do the vineyard tour to the top of the mountain if it's available. You get a ride from the lower vineyard through the forest and past the ponds up to the upper vineyard at about 2,400 feet. The views at the top are worth the time. Tasting fee is reasonable and waived with a bottle or better yet, become a member and get access to the special events and the vineyard tour. Reserve the tour and weekend tapas if you can. We'll be back soon!

Delicious wine! Yummy food! Beautiful views... Great…read morestaff...we found our new favorite!

Great girls trip experience! I booked us an afternoon wine taste tour based solely on reviews and…read morethe team did not disappoint. The wines were thoughtfully curated and presented very well. Captain Sean was entertaining and professional and clearly made sure we were all safe and comfortable. It is a smaller boat with 4 tables inside and room outside for 4-6 people; maybe a little crowded if the weather isn't cooperating. For us it was a bluebird day with calm waters and stunning scenery. 100% recommend!

One of our favorite excursions during our Lake Tahoe vacation was aboard the Golden Rose. It was a…read morelittle tricky to find their spot on the marina but we left plenty of time, so not a problem. The captain was welcoming but the star was Kelsey, the sommelier. With only 12 people on our tour, we weren't crowded on the 1953 Cris Craft wooden boat --what a classic! Kelsey gave us 8 different wines that were all high quality, providing a nice overview of each. She is funny and personable. We liked one sample so much we shared a full bottle at the end. The cost was appropriate for the generous number of tasting pours. The sunset tour passed by Camp Richardson then to Emerald Bay, where we got a nice history of the castle and area. It did not feel rushed at all. Definitely recommend this tour!

Excellent service, friendly staff and amazing wines. My group of girls had an amazing time…read morecelebrating our book retreat and birthdays

Cupcake was fun. That was our tasting host's nickname…read more It was Nevada Day weekend and every winery is swamped for three day. But Cupcake was a pouring genius and making everyone welcome. The tasting room and wine shop has a bit of an Italian villa vibe. The huge back lawn was beautiful. We chose to stay inside since outside service was limited that day. The bottle labels and wine names were entertaining in themselves. With an extensive list it was hard to choose a few to try. I started with three of their five sparkling wines. The Almond, the Peach, and the Strawberry. I have an office full of girls that enjoy their sweet bubbles. So they got some that day. For me, I like the reds. Julie Ann Barbera, Sienna Mourvedre, Morgan's Nebbiolo, and Naughty Bawdy. All great, but Naughty you have to try on label and name alone. Plenty of parking in the front.

The major feature of Starfield Vineyards is obviously their vineyards and gardens, but this…read morememorial weekend, their pizzas were a highlight!! My personal favorite was the Artichoke Florentine because the mint pesto is so refreshing for the summer. I also appreciate the low alcohol options, as it allows me to join in the fun despite my alcohol sensitivity. The vineyards and gardens are spectacular as usual; I highly recommend the main lake trail/loop for the shade it offers during the hot summer. The turtle pond is secluded and pleasant, but it's further and lacks shade, so I recommend bringing a parasol.

Lovely little winery with great outdoor dog friendly seating. Had plenty of umbrellas up for shade…read more The 4 of us had 3 different wine flights, and they do take the cost of the tasting off if you buy 1 bottle of wine which I always appreciate. The wine wasn't bad but wasn't my favorite, I found the Pinot noir in particular quite odd tasting. The food was lovely, we got a pizza and the whipped brie and both were very tasty. Overall I recommend here as a little escape when visiting Apple hill area!

What a great place to go! So many winery's in the Shenandoah Valley, but THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO!…read more The wines are delicious! Tom the owner and his son Dan are awesome friendly knowledgeable guys. So many wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon! I did a tasting, they give you a nice cheese and crackers to eat while you're tasting. The place is beautiful! Great wines, I left with Zinfandel, Tempranillo and Cabernet. Definitely going back again with friends.

This was our third visit, and it just keeps getting better. Tom's wines are consistently…read moreincredible, and the hospitality makes you feel genuinely welcome from the moment you arrive. You can tell a lot of care goes into both the wine and the overall experience. If you're looking for a new winery to try, this is absolutely worth the visit--and even if you're not, it's still worth going out of your way. Highly recommend. We'll definitely be back.

Saw Atlanta Rhythm Section last night at the Helwig outdoor stage. A perfect night. Getting in and…read moreout of parking was a breeze. A food truck, wine (obviously) and a fun ice cream truck were there to keep the party going. The quality of the sound mix was great. Plenty of restrooms. Bring your own low back lawn chair. A very friendly place if you have mobility issues. Listening to great music while watching the sunset was so great. I can't wait to catch a live show next year. And....every Helwig staff member I ran into was helpful and pleasant.

Ok. Full confession, I'm not a wine connoisseur. I don't sniff and swirl my wine. But I like what I…read morelike. And I did totally enjoy my glass of wine on the covered outdoor patio at Helwig. Good wine, gorgeous views, and chill relaxed inviting vibes. First of all, Helwig is in the town of Plymouth which is about 25 miles from Folsom. It was my first visit here. Who knew that this wine country is so close to Sacramento?! Well now you do. The winery is perched on top of an elevated land that provides a spectacular view s of the Shenandoah Valley. Movie picture perfect views. My friends and I sat on the deck and soaked in all the gorgeousness. We also bought lunch from the Kitchen which is a walk up counter service and a bottle of wine from the tasting room. From the Kitchen, I ordered the southwest salad and added grilled chicken for an extra $5. The salad was uneventful. The chicken was a measly portion that was served in a small container that is the same size container that the salad dressing was served in. Where's the chicken?! The chicken also had no flavor. Bummer. But the Dave burger and side of Caesar salad looked so darn delicious. Folks in my group that ordered that, devoured theirs. Big, fat juicy burger. The onion rings was a hit for me, crisp golden fried beer batter sweet onion rings. Delicious. The audible crunch just made it more satisfying. The housemade kettle chips were thick, toothsome, and salty. Very flavorful. My glass of wine was so darn delicious. Light, crisp and smooth. Darn... I forgot the name of the wine. There is also a wine cave, folks can make reservations for tastings in the cave. The cave is below the amphitheater. The small amphitheater is aesthetically eye catching. Sloped manicured green lawns bordered by thoughtfully designed concrete landscaping. Concert info and reservations for the cave is on their website.

Stunning! We recently held our wedding at Black Oak Mountain…read more& Vineyards. I cannot say enough good things about this venue. The day we toured the beautiful property and met Jane, we knew immediately that this was the place for us! Jane was so helpful and accommodating throughout this process. We rented the property for our event and added 2 nights so we could take full advantage of this amazing estate. We were so happy we did this because it allowed us to really experience the estate to its fullest in a less chaotic way. The property itself is literally breathtaking. The 360 degree views of the sprawling hills was the perfect backdrop to our event...you'll save on flowers and decor because the views provide the eye-candy! The sunset is spectacular so make sure you arrange for sunset photos with your photographer. The estate itself is immaculate, comfortably sleeps 6 and is decked out with everything you would need for an overnight stay. We received SO many compliments from our guests on the venue. Many saying it was the most amazing they'd ever seen! Our guests took so many photos of themselves there too! LOL I already miss it so much and hope we can revisit the property on our anniversary! I highly recommend having your event here! You will not be disappointed!

Where do I begin? Black Oak Mountain Vinyards is one of my favorite wedding venues to DJ at. They…read morealways do such a great job providing an awesome wedding day for their couples and make everyone feel like royalty. The views are unbelievably beautiful and the options for guests to take pictures are endless. Black Oak Mountain Vinyards is one of the number one wedding venues in Northern California hands-down! Also, the staff is genuinely amazing at making you feel at home and welcome. It truly is their pleasure to serve you. Black Oak Mountain Vinyards definitely deserves a full five star review! There are no negatives about them! - DJ Grant Petersen